Drink Here Now: Five Places to Sip This Week

Parallel 37 New Fall Cocktail MenuParallel 37 is a modern American restaurant located in The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. It has been getting rave reviews since Chef Michael Rotondo took over the kitchen in January of this year. Rotondo comes to San Francisco via Chicago, and brings a sense of fun to his menu. The cuisine has a global focus on produce found along the 37th parallel, which runs through the Bay Area. Parallel 37’s mixology-driven cocktail menu also focuses on seasonal produce when creating cocktails. Mixologist Camber Lay likes to say that she "brings the kitchen to the cocktail" and works closely with Chef Rotondo to create cocktails that can be paired with specific dishes on his menu. Two of the new fall cocktails that will be on the new cocktail list are the Bay Area Butcher, which uses Swan's Neck Vodka, Veloce, lemon and sweet 100's, and the 8th Street East, which consists of Hooker's House Rye, Carpano Antica, Campari and burnt orange. Starting September 2, 600 Stockton Street.

Summersalt Block Party Festival (#SMRSLT)After a three-year hiatus, Summersalt Music and Arts Festival returns to the streets of San Francisco. Thankfully, this block party takes place in Potrero Hill, so break out the sunscreen, sunglasses, and dancing shoes because this all day party will have you grooving in the streets as you listen to the live sounds of bands such as The Grouch & Eligh, Felix Cartal, and Kill Paris. General admission tickets are $30, and if you opt for VIP tickets, they will run you $50, but you get premium seats with views of the main stage, plus fancy VIP bars and specialty cocktails will be available for purchase at this popping Potrero party. Saturday, September 14, 12 – 8 pm. For a full line-up visit www.summersalt.eventbrite.com; location: 16th Street & Wisconsin in Potrero Hill.

18th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival This event is created especially for wine and chocolate lovers. The two-day celebration will have you writhing in ecstasy, as you swirl your way through the lush and sultry Cadillac Chocolate & Wine Pavilion. Sample anything from chocolate tea to hot fudge sundaes, and even chocolate vodka. When you’re ready to take a break from the wine and chocolate tasting, head over to the “Earthquake” Ice Cream Eating Contest (a festival tradition). Be careful while watching this hilarious contest though, viewers have been known to belly laugh while shooting wine out through their noses from trying to drink while witnessing this high comedy, hands-free eating competition. There will also be a Chocolate School, chef demonstrations and a silent auction. Over 30 vendors generously donate sample-sized portions of their products to help raise money. All proceeds benefit Project Open Hand, providing meals to the homebound critically ill, senior citizens, and those living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $20 - $45 depending on the ticket type. Chocolate and wine pavilion tasting tickets are $30. Location: Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point Street, September 14 and 15, 12 – 5 pm.

WineLuv Wednesdays: All You Can Drink Wine TastingSaunter down to this swanky spot inside The SportsClub/LA-San Francisco, where you will find one of the best wine tasting parties in SF. There are unlimited wine tastings of 12 award-winning artisan wines each week to get your wine buds singing. These wines are also available for purchase. You are rewarded for buying wine with a free ticket ($30 value) to Wineluv Wednesdays for every bottle of wine purchased. Blu Restaurant also offers discount dining. Saunter in and stumble out! 747 Market Street inside The SportsClub/LA at Blu Restaurant, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, with the doors staying open until 11 pm for extended mingling. Early bird tickets start at $10 per person, $30 at the door.

SF Meet Up's Appetizer & Drinks Tour This week, SF Meet Up is brought to you courtesy of Startup Mind SF, and has us mingling, drinking and dining at four North Beach restaurants. Your senses will be tantalized with promises of mouth-watering appetizers, salads, pizzas, drinks and desserts as you rub elbows with other food and drink seekers. You will spend 40 minutes at each location, then off to the next stop. The first stop is Score Bar & Lounge for some fried rice with veggies, next stop is Thai, then off to fancy Italian, and finishing off with Greek Baklava for dessert. Discounted and/or specialty drinks will be available. Bring plenty of cash for food plus tax/tips. Score Bar & Lounge, 490 Broadway Street, 8:00pm, meet outside the bar.